Two sisters are suing Watchtower Bible and Tract Society over
policy to keep suspicions of sexual crime within the church.

Two sisters are suing the national organization of the Jehovah's Witnesses
over a policy they claim shields child molesters. The suit, filed in
New Hampshire, also sparks concerns that other religious groups might
face similar legal action.
The women have charged three entities—their stepfather, their
former Jehovah's Witness congregation in Wilton, New Hampshire, and
the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (wbts), the group's international
headquarters in Brooklyn, New York—with failing to report sexual-abuse
incidents to proper authorities. New Hampshire requires that all cases
of suspected child abuse be reported to law enforcement.

In a settled criminal case, Heather Berry, now 19, and her stepsister
Holly Berry, now 22, accused their father, Paul Berry, of continual
sexual and physical abuse during their childhood. The suit says that
when the girls' mother, Sarah Poisson, reported the situation to three
elders, they told her to "pray more about the situation" and
"be a better wife."

Paul Berry was convicted last year of 17 counts of aggravated sexual
assault against Holly, between the years she was 4 and 10. Berry received
a sentence of 56 to 112 years in prison. Charges related to any abuse
against Heather from age 3 to age 6 were dropped.

In the pending civil suit, filed in August, the Berry sisters now seek
unspecified financial compensation and changes in wbts operating procedures.
The suit, says Poisson, concerns a Jehovah's Witness policy that instructs
members to keep suspicions of abuse within the church. In recent years,
several former Witnesses have brought criminal suits against elders
or members for failing to act on abuse charges.

"This case is about the shared responsibility of the Watchtower
organization," says Jeff Anderson, the attorney representing the
Berry sisters. "They gave refuge to [Berry] and molesters like
him. They are not free to disregard the law."

Anderson has served as legal counsel in 500 suits against religious
organizations or clergy in cases of child molestation. In September,
he was part of a four-person team of attorneys who won a $3 million
out-of-court settlement from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints in a similar case in Oregon.

Some observers, though lauding the intent to catch child molesters,
believe that success for the Berry sisters could bring trouble to other
religious congregations. "There will be copycat cases all over
the country," says Richard Hammer, editor of Church Law and Tax
Report. Hammer also says a favorable ruling would impair the confidential
nature of pastoral counseling sessions. Although nearly 40 states require
clergy and other professionals to report suspicions of physical or sexual
abuse to local authorities, 33 states excuse church leaders from reporting
abuse when they receive information in privileged conversations.

"It sets up a classic conflict," says Colorado Springs attorney
Martin Nussbaum. "These laws create a crisis of conscience where
the pastor has to decide, 'Who am I going to obey, Caesar or God?'

"The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment says there are
some things a government can't touch inside a church—like the
church-minister relationship," says Nussbaum. "We can't have
our courts telling us how to counsel other individuals. The majority
rule in these cases is that church autonomy is respected."

Plaintiff Heather Berry of Charlestown, New Hampshire, says she hopes
the silence will end.